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The Cocaleros and the rise of Evo Morales

By gthomas2219, July 17, 2013

This essay will
explore the impact that the Cocaleros and Evo Morales have had on Bolivia over
the recent history. The impact of the Cocaleros will be shown in their central
role in establishing a platform for Morales to rise to prominence on. Morales’s
impact will be explored through examination of specific changes enacted in his
time as President, specifically establishing a new constitution, reforming
extraction of Bolivia’s vast gas reserves and reforms related to the coca
plant. To begin certain contextual factors of Morales’s changes will be
established.

Bolivia’s history is
one of exploitation, whether it be the colonial Spanish exploitation of the
vast silver deposits of Potosi’sCerro
Ricoin the Sixteenth
Century, or the exploitation of the vast natural gas reserves by multinational
corporations (MNCs) throughout the late 1980s and 1990s (Artaraz, 2012). The
historically continuous exploitation of Bolivia’s vast natural resource wealth
has been felt by the Bolivian people as a lack of sovereignty (Dangl, 2007;
Artaraz, 2012). Politics in Bolivia since the foundation of the republic in
1825 has proved difficult (Dunkerley, 2007). An incomplete revolution in 1952
was defeated by a military coup in 1964, by 1982 democracy had formally been
re-established, however political power was concentrated in the hands of a
minority elite, unrepresentative of the vast majority of Bolivians (Dunkerley,
2007; Morales, 2011; Artaraz, 2012). In response to the unrepresentativeness
and corruption that was characteristic of Bolivian politics, especially since
1982, the general attitude of the population to politics was one of
dissolution. However, the international perception of Bolivian politics during
the 1990s was excellent, Bolivia was seen as a shinning example of
neoliberalism, it had opened itself up to MNCs, it had low public spending and
it was conforming to USWar on
Drugsthrough eradication of
the coca crop (Dunkerley, 2007; Klein, 2011). This being said there has always
been a strong thread of resistance running through Bolivian society. Emblematic
of this until the 1980s were strong trade unions, particularly mining unions,
however the closure of tin mines and the loss of over 20,000 jobs in 1985 wrought
huge destruction (Dangl, 2007; Klein, 2011). The mining union’s loss was theCocaleros’[1]gain as many newly unemployed
miners moved east to the Chapare region and took their unionising skills with
them (Artaraz, 2012).

The movement of miners
to the coca growing area of El Chapare proved hugely significant for Bolivia.
The miner’s background in unions helped structure the organisations of
Cocaleros and their resistance to law 1008[2] and the eradication efforts of
the government (Crabtree, 2005). The government stepped up eradication policy
in 1997 with President Hugo Banzer advocating a ‘zero coca’ policy (Crabtree,
2005, p. 38). Not only attempting to defend their livelihoods the resistance of
the Cocaleroswas hugely
symbolic for two reasons. One, the resistance represented a defence of a
traditional Andean symbol – the coca leaf which has been a central symbol of
Andean culture for centuries, and two, the fight against US imperialism and
defence of Bolivian sovereignty (Crabtree, 2005; Dangl, 2007; Artaraz, 2012).
It was through the organisation of the Cocaleros’resistance that Evo Morales
came to prominence, he rose up to become the leader of the largest Cocaleros
union (Crabtree, 2011; Artaraz, 2012). The resistance of the Cocaleros
transformed into active political participation throughout the 1990s, with a
key moment coming in 1994 with the ‘Law of Popular Participation’ (PPL)
(Artaraz, 2012, p. 46) being enacted. PPL decentralised power to newly created
municipalities, which provided a base for limited representation of local
groups (Klein, 2011; Artaraz, 2012). In 1995 the Cocaleros joined with other
indigenous social movements to create the ‘Political tool for Sovereignty of
Common People (IPSP)’ (Dangl, 2007, p.49). The established political parties
and the electoral commission denied recognition of the IPSP as a political
party and so the IPSP took on the name of MAS[3] (Movement for Socialism) in
1999 to be able to stand for election (Dangl 2007; Harten, 2011). The notion of
apolitical toolas was the IPSP and MAS is crucial as
it demonstrates the bottom-up design of MAS;the
primacy of the social movements that make it up – it is for their use, not for
politicians (Harten, 2011). MAS is a tool to use not to be used by. The first
leader was Evo Morales.

Despite MAS and
Morales’s lineage being directly traceable to the Cocaleros, since coming to
power in 2005[4] they have widened their base to include all social and
indigenous movements, as well as trying to curry favour with the urban middle
class (Harten, 2011). Morales’s skill as a leader, and a central plank of MAS’s
electoral success, is his ability to galvanise and shape a vast array of
indigenous and social protest movements into a unified political project
(Salman, 2007). Like the miner’s influence in organising the Cocaleros, Morales
and MAS have taken the general anger and dissatisfaction of a wide array of
social/indigenous protest movements and formed them into a coherent political
articulation (Salman, 2007).

A key election pledge
made by Morales before his victory in 2005 was to write a new constitution to
enshrine the rights of the indigenous people of Bolivia, who despite making up
the vast majority of the population [5] have been marginalised in Bolivian politics,
and Bolivia in general throughout the country’s history (Artaraz, 2012). The
new constitution, which was ratified in January 2009, casts Bolivia as a
‘plurinational’ state (Republica de Bolivia, 2009 in Albro, 2010, p. 78). Theplurinationalcharacterisation of the state
highlights the rise in stature indigenous groups have experienced alongside the
rise of Morales to the Presidency (Albro, 2010; Assies, 2011; Artaraz, 2012). A
symbolic – as well as practical – codification of the new constitution is the
classification of the coca leaf as not a drug in its natural form, the
protection of this central symbol of Andean culture is also a direct challenge
to US classification (Assies, 2011). Another strengthening of the legal
recognition of indigenous people is shown in the codification of Andean ethics
– ‘ama qhilla, ama llulla, ama suwa (don’t be lazy, don’t lie, and don’t be a
thief)’ (Assies, 2011, p. 112); the new Bolivian constitution is not just a
document to rule by, it is a document to live by – crucially an Andeanindigenouslife. The representation of indigenous
groups by the constitution is also reflected in Morales himself as he straddles
the two most prominent indigenous identities, the Aymara and the Quechua
(Crabtree, 2011); his family background is Aymara, but he grew up within a
Quechuan area and so is a potent figure for the raised stature of Bolivia’s
indigenous population. Whilst physically embodying the indigenous identities of
Bolivia, Morales’s politics are also of an indigenous nature, which can be
classified as ‘sindicato democracy’ (Conzelman, 2010, p. 5). This is a
democracy typified by high levels of direct community accountability; a focus
on consensus; individual responsibility to the community; subordination of the
individual to the community; economics thatwork
forthe community (Conzelman,
2010). Thesindicato democracyof Morales, in the language of the
liberal democratic tradition he has widened and strengthened the public sphere,
he has established a non-exclusionary public sphere, he has empowered civil
society (Fraser, 1997; Albro, 2010; Conzelman, 2010; Artaraz, 2012). As noted
above, there has always been a strong theme of resistance in Bolivian politics,
occurring within civil society, but the codification of indigenous rights
within the new constitution has undoubtedly strengthened civil society (Assies,
2011). The pre-eminence of indigenous identity in the new constitution
evidences the strengthening of sovereignty of Bolivia, it also points to the
reclamation of Bolivia for Bolivians, what Postero (2010, p.19) has called
‘indigenous nationalism’, which is emblematic of Morales’s political project.

A significant sign of
Morales’s impact since coming to power can be seen in the nationalisation of
Bolivia’s vast reserves of natural gas (Kaup, 2010; Sivak, 2011). However this
was not a total/traditional nationalisation, but a renegotiation of contracts
between the state and MNCs (Kohl, 2010; Sivak, 2011). The state raised taxation
and royalties charged to the companies from 18 per cent to 50 per cent, and in
some particularly significant gas fields to 82 per cent for a short time, this
initial extra rise was in order to recapitalise the state’s gas company YPFB
(Kaup, 2010). What this demonstrates then is not a full or traditional
nationalisation, but a significant imposition of the state within the economy –
state capitalism rather than full socialism. The profits derived from the
renegotiated contracts have been channelled into social welfare programmes such
as education and health care (Kohl, 2010; Kaup, 2010; Crabtree, 2011).

Thesemi­-nationalisation of gas,
and the increased role of the state within the economy, points to thesindicatostyle of Morales’s political project.
In this sense the economy is seen towork
forthe nation, profit for
the community rather than individual profit. There has been criticism of this
approach both from the left and right (Kaup, 2010). From the left are claims
that Morales has not gone far enough, and that Bolivian gas should be totally nationalised
(Kohl. 2010; Kaup, 2010). Bolivia’s contract with Brazil, which relies on
Bolivian gas for up to 50 per cent of its total consumption, stipulates that 65
per cent of all daily Bolivian production be sent to Brazil (La Razón, 2007 in
Kaup, 2010). Critics on the right claim that the sharp rise in rents charged by
the State will discourage new investment and stifle current work, similar
criticism is levelled at the use of the revenue for social programmes, arguing
for its re-investment in the gas industry (Kaup, 2010). This demonstrates the
tightrope that Morales must walk and his pragmatism in walking it. Regardless
of criticism of Morales’ssemi-nationalisation
of gas, it has undoubtedly increased Bolivian sovereignty over one of its key
natural resources and reduced the exploitation of the country by foreign
actors; it has also greatly increased social welfare programmes that are vital
in reducing social inequalities.

Another example of
Morales’s pragmatism and the unique middle way between capitalism and socialism
is the codification of private property and land laws set out in the 2009
constitution. Protection of private property is conditional on it having a
‘social-economic function’ (Assies, 2011, p. 115). Property must work for
society, again evidencing the shift in relationship between the nation/civil
society and the economy. Unlike in the neoliberal ideology where the economy is
predominant to all other sectors of society, a predominance which is based upon
the ultimate protection of private property and the rule of law, the social
function required of private property in the 2009 Bolivian constitution
predominates the social over the economic/legal (Plant, 2010; Wolff, 2013). In
short thesocial-economic
functiondemanded of private
property points to a central theme of change under Morales, the subordination
of the ‘rule of law’ to ‘the rule of the people’ (Wolff, 2013, p. 46). This
subordination is unsurprising as it follows the logic ofsindicato democracy. The
fundamental nature of Bolivian politics has changed since Morales’s came to
power. Under his Presidency the country has seen a diminishing of liberal
political traits and a rise of what Wolff (2013) calls ‘post-liberal democracy’
(p.31), or as has been the case throughout the textsindicato democracy. The
decline in the institutional role of traditional political organs such as the
executive, judiciary ect. is reflected in the rise of participation outside of
institutional boundaries seen in mobilisations rather than institutional participation
through traditional methods – joining a political party (Wolff, 2013). To put
it simply thepost-liberal/sindicato
democracystemming from
Morales’s rule is a much raw-er,more
direct and less institutionally confined form of governance.

Whilst certainly not
traditionally socialist, the political project embarked upon by Morales since
his rise through the coca unions is one that can be characterised by its
anti-neoliberal, perceptibly anti-American imperialistic neoliberalism (Sivak,
2011). Bolivia now does not receive any new loans from either the IMF or the
World Bank, a sign of the rejection of the neoliberal conditions that these
loans are based on and increased sovereignty of the country (Dangl, 2007;
Sivak, 2011). A specific example of the rejection of American led policy,
outside of the change in approach to coca growing, is seen in Morales’s
decision to leave the ‘Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)’ (Sivak, 2011, p.
145) which is a free trade agreement used by the US to exercise influence and
stifle the growth of regional trade blocs that could potentially damage US
business interests in the area. Relatedly Bolivia’s joining of the Bolivarian
Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) and the People’s Trade Agreement (PTA) with
Cuba and Venezuela can be seen to represent – in one instance –
anti-American/anti-neoliberal policies (Dangl, 2007; Sivak, 2011). The PTA is a
good example of thesindicatotheme of Morales in that it is based
on mutually beneficial trade, something that cannot be said of FTAA (Dangl,
2007).

Morales’s close link
to coca has had a key structuring effect on his politics. Whilst rising to a
position of power through the coca grower’s unions, since becoming President he
has pursued a surprising policy approach to coca (Dangl, 2007; Sivak, 2011;
Artaraz, 2012). His approach may be taken as another example of his pragmatism,
or the reformist nature of Morales and MAS as opposed to revolutionary (Webber,
2010). On the one hand Morales has been sympathetic to his Cocaleros roots in that
he has codified coca as not a drug, in its natural form, in the 2009
constitution (Assies, 2011). Morales has greatly expanded the internal, legal,
market for coca, which has greatly benefited small farmers as it has widened
their platform to sell their crops (Dangl, 2007; Kohl, 2010). Eradication
initiatives whilst still in place have been qualitatively changed, no longer
are they violent and forced but are now voluntary and achieved through social
control when a farmer grows over the 1,600m2legal limit (Dangl,
2007; Sivak, 2011). The change in the nature of eradication has vastly reduced
the violence in the El Chapare region (Dangl, 2007). However, it is the fact
that eradication efforts are still in place that has surprised many. Morales has
focused his anti-coca policy on combating coca farming for cocaine production,
but despite this the US since the Bush administration has continued to withhold
certification of Bolivia as an ally in theWar
on Drugs(Sivak, 2011). Most significantly, despite winning consecutive
elections with an increased majority, Morales has not repealed law 1008, the
US-backed drug laws that have been shown to disproportionately affect small
scale farmers as opposed to growers of coca for cocaine (Crabtree, 2005; Dangl,
2007).

Whilst not impacting
as significantly as expected on coca laws, Morales has undeniably impacted on
Bolivia. A concrete manifestation of his impact is the 2009 constitution, which
primarily codified the rights of indigenous people, it has raised their stature
in the country and it is hard to envisage it ever declining. The nature of
democracy has changed vastly; Morales has overseen a drastic shift from
neoliberalism to Andeansindicato
democracy, which has reversed the dominance of the economy and put civil
society, the citizens in charge. The empowering of the nation is also clearly
seen in thesemi-nationalisation
of Bolivia’s gas reserves, and the new mutually beneficial trade alliances with
other Latin American countries. The exploitation that has characterised
Bolivian history since it’s colonisation is rapidly declining. Morales has
facilitated ownership of Bolivia for Bolivians and is a shinning example of the
strengthening of indigenous people.

This essay has traced
the impact of the Cocaleros and Evo Morales on Bolivia by first establishing
context. The impact of the Cocaleros was seen in that it was here that Morales
began to climb the ladder to presidency. The Cocaleros were also crucial to the
formation of MAS, which has now become the dominant force in Bolivian politics.
Morales’s impact has been specifically outlined in the reforms to the gas
contracts, the change enacted in coca eradication, the writing of a new
constitution, and a fundamental change to the nature of Bolivian politics. Whilst
the essay has focused primarily on Morales he would undoubtedly not be where he
is today without the Cocaleros organisations, ironically the neoliberalism that
has been severely diminished by Morales and MAS played a central factor in
strengthening the Cocaleros unions which provided the platform for the progress
of MAS and Morales.

Assies, W. (2011)
Bolivia’s new constitution and its implications. In: Pearce, A. J. (ed) (2011)Evo Morales and the Movimiento al
Socialismo in Bolivia: The first term in context, 2006 – 2010. Institute for the
Study of the Americas, University of London. pp: 93 – 116.

Crabtree, J. (2005)Patterns of Protest: Politics and
Social Movements in Bolivia. Latin American Bureau, London.

Crabtree, J. (2011)
Electoral validation for Morales and the MAS (1999 – 2010). In: Pearce, A. J.
(ed) (2011)Evo Morales and the
Movimiento al Socialismo in Bolivia: The first term in context, 2006 – 2010.
Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London. pp: 117 – 142.

Harten, S. (2011)
Towards a ‘traditional party’? Internal organisation and change in the MAS in
Bolivia. In: Pearce, A. J. (ed) (2011)Evo
Morales and the Movimiento al Socialismo in Bolivia: The first term in context,
2006 – 2010. Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London. pp:
63 – 91.

Klein, H. S. (2011)
The Historical Background to the rise of MAS, 1952 – 2005. In: Pearce, A. J.
(ed) (2011)Evo Morales and the
Movimiento al Socialismo in Bolivia: The first term in context, 2006 – 2010.
Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London. pp: 27 – 61.